The Federal Polytechnic in Ekowe, Bayelsa State, is working to resolve a labour dispute with the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU).
According to Nimizuo Pereseigha, Public Relations Officer, the institution’s management is committed to finding a peaceful resolution through dialogue.
Pereseigha told newsmen in Yenagoa on Friday that the management had made series of moves to meet with the leadership NASU in the polytechnic.
It would be recalled that non academic staff members of the polytechnic are currently in a face-off with the management over alleged issues of non-remittance of union dues and promotions.
The polytechnic’s spokesman, said that the management would embrace every peaceful move that would lead to an amicable settlement of the crisis.
“NASU has not shown any remarkable interest in settlement. They have rebuffed moves by the management to discuss and resolve the labour crisis,” he said.
He said that the management did not deliberately refuse to remit dues meant for NASU, but that its leadership did not cooperate with the management on the matter.
“There are workers who got upgraded perhaps from non academic to academic cadre and their union dues are still going to NASU even when they now belong to ASUP.
“To resolve this, the management urged the three unions in the polytechnic to update their membership status.
“Other unions complied by submitting updates and consent forms to validate their memberships, but NASU refused to comply,” he said.
The spokesman further said that NASU members were not denied promotions, but that the union was on strike when other members of staff completed and submitted their performance assessment forms.
“It is unfair to blame the management over a process that was concluded while the union was on strike. They have again been asked to submit assessment forms, but they have yet to do so,” he said
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Etebu Ebifiye, the polytechnic’s branch Chairman of NASU, said that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had waded into the crisis with a view to ensuring peaceful resolution.
Ebifiye told NAN that NLC officials had separately met with representatives of the union and the management, saying,” they are to call for a joint meeting of both parties”
The chairman said that the management’s refusal to remit union dues to NASU was not only in breach of labour laws, but a threat to industrial harmony.
“They are aware of our grievances, we are also open to meaningful conversations that will lead to a peaceful settlement,” he said.
